Elucidating the regulation and function of the cell-cycle regulator RGC-32 in Epstein-Barr virus transformed cells

我们发现，与许多癌症有关的一个关键人类基因(RGC-32)在感染癌症相关病毒爱泼斯坦-巴尔病毒(EBV)的白细胞中的RNA和蛋白质产生水平上受到高度调控。因此，该蛋白的高表达可能在与EBV感染相关的癌症的发展中发挥作用，这些癌症包括Burkitt淋巴瘤、霍奇金病、移植后淋巴瘤和鼻咽癌。我们的研究旨在获得关于RGC-32如何调节生长及其表达如何被细胞和病毒蛋白控制的进一步信息。因此，这项研究将增加我们对RGC-32过度生产如何促进癌症发展的理解。具体来说，我们将确定：1.EBV蛋白和细胞因子如何调节EBV感染细胞中RGC-32 RNA的表达。短小的RNA分子(MicroRNAs)和RNA结合蛋白如何控制RGC-32蛋白的产生。RGC-32如何控制细胞生长。我们的研究将为从事癌症研究和治疗领域的基础科学家和临床医生提供重要信息。因此，这项研究的长期受益者可能包括患有RGC-32表达改变的疾病的患者。

We have discovered that a key human gene implicated in many cancers (RGC-32) is highly regulated at the level of both RNA and protein production in white blood cells infected with the cancer-associated virus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The high expression of this protein may therefore play a role in the development of cancers associated with EBV infection that include Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, post-transplant lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Our research aims to obtain further information on how RGC-32 regulates growth and how its expression can be controlled by cellular and viral proteins. This research will therefore increase our understanding of how overproduction of RGC-32 may contribute to cancer development.Specifically we will determine:1. How EBV proteins and cellular factors regulate RGC-32 RNA expression in EBV-infected cells.2. How short RNA molecules (microRNAs) and RNA binding proteins control RGC-32 protein production.3. How RGC-32 controls cell growth.Our research will provide important information for basic scientists and clinicians working in the fields of cancer research and treatment. The long term beneficiaries of this research could therefore include patients suffering from diseases in which RGC-32 expression is altered.